Beaufort County Sheriff
Above is the violent crime rate for Pitt County (in red) and Beaufort County (in blue) from the year 1998 through 2009, as reported by the NC Department of Justice (http://www.ncdoj.gov/Crime/View-Crime-Statistics.aspx). The numbers represent a rate of per 100,000 people, this makes the population of Beaufort Co. and Pitt Co. equal for this study.
The current Sheriff was elected to office November 1998. Over the 12 years shown, the violent crime rate in our county has risen at a disturbing pace. This is indicated by the upward trend-line (computer generated line showing flow or lean) across the blue bars. In contrast, Pitt Co. (in red) has reduced its violent crime over the same 12 years. This becomes even more alarming when you consider the population difference between the two counties.
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office focused on obtaining CALEA from 2004 through 2006, the paper was hung on the wall in 2006. If we look at the violent crime rate during those years, up until 2009 (NC has just released 2009 numbers, showing an overall drop in crime in NC), it is easy to see that the VIOLENT CRIME rate in Beaufort County is out of control. Our county is almost equal to Pitt County – which includes Greenville.
Crime in Beaufort County has gone unchecked by the current sheriff. CALEA may be a large part of the problem, as the chart would indicate, or it may be the management style that has run away deputy after deputy. If no one is working on patrol, then very little is being done for the county. Court papers still go un-served, cars still remain parked, and crimes are still increasing throughout Beaufort County. Drug arrests that we are seeing are small time compared to what's being left behind - just look at other counties around us!
As your sheriff – I will increase the patrol manpower WITHOUT increasing the budget. I will direct deputies to patrol the county, service the court paperwork, and REDUCE CRIME IN OUR COUNTY!
The sheriff will be available to the citizens and my office will work towards solving your problems. Investigators WILL respond when needed and we will solve crimes – my office WILL NOT PASS THE BUCK!
Citizens will NOT receive a letter stating you aren’t important enough to assist, the commissioners will have an ally who is trying to fix problems, instead of creating problems.
I want to thank you for your support and your vote on November 2nd. Please come back to this website as information changes over time.
Thanks again, Donald Dixon
I added Craven County (which includes Havelock and Cherry Point) and New Hanover County (Wilmington) to the Pitt/Beaufort County CRIME RATE chart.
Three of the four counties show a reduction in violent crime.
Beaufort County is the only county of the four that shows an INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME!
Property crime is high everywhere and regardless to whether you feel it is a sign of the times, drug related, or because of the economy, it affects all of us. Insurance companies raise rates and businesses add to prices to recoup their losses. As a citizen and a consumer, you do not have to be robbed to feel the pain.
As the updated chart above shows, the property crime rate in Beaufort County and Pitt County are both high. The trend line shows the true story - for 12 years the property crime rate has remained the same under our current Sheriff.
Pitt County has (like other counties around us) reduced their property crime. At the rate we are headed, in as little as 4 years Pitt County will be lower than we are in property crimes!
This is inexcusable. This is neglect. The Sheriff, rather than doing the job his office is charged with, is wasting tax dollars and other resources. There are no deputies patrolling the county and working proactive to reduce crime, everything from BCSO is reactive (aka: knee-jerk reaction).
Beaufort County crime - property or violent - will not be under control and/or reduced until the lack of management and wasteful policies are changed at our Sheriff's Office.
We can make that happen Nov 2nd., and I thank you for your vote.
